FDA Identifies Lettuce Supplier in Parasite Outbreak Affecting Taco Bell Locations

Why it matters locally: The identified lettuce supplier, Taylor Fresh Foods, is based in Salinas, California, directly linking this national health concern to a California-headquartered agricultural business. This incident could lead to increased scrutiny and potential changes in food safety protocols for California's agricultural sector, a key industry for the state.

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Federal investigators identified a single lettuce supplier in an outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite causing intestinal illness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation tracked the produce to a specific independent farm and linked it to cases in five states where Taco Bell operates. Taylor Fresh Foods, based in Salinas, California, stated that FDA testing indicated one of its affiliated independent farms supplied the contaminated lettuce. Federal warnings to consumers did not publicly name the company. Taco Bell confirmed that it received the lettuce implicated in the outbreak. The cyclospora parasite can cause watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and fatigue. The illness typically lasts for several weeks if untreated.